Dear SIEF2025 Congress delegate,

With the start of the congress rapidly approaching, this email aims to help you reach the university reception desk, and navigate the congress week.

🚨Advice on recent EU traveller rules change🚨

SIEF2025: Unwriting will have a slightly different structure compared to previous congresses. There will be 2 panel sessions on the first day (Tuesday 3 June) as well as the typical opening, plenary and welcome reception.
Please familiarise yourself with the congress timetable to ensure that you do not miss anything interesting. 

Timetable

The congress will take place across several buildings at the University of Aberdeen. There are frequent bus services from the centre of Aberdeen, where most hotels are located, to the campus, or it's approximately a 30 minute walk. 

The reception desk is in the entrance area of the main congress venue MacRobert Building, King St, Aberdeen AB24 3FX
Entrance coordinates: 57°09'58.1"N 2°05'53.2"W located a two minute walk from the university bus stop and visible from the road & bus stop itself. Here you can check-in to the congress and pick up your badge. Reception closes at 17:15 on the first day, but if you miss this, you are still welcome to attend the opening and welcome reception.

The congress will be using two other buildings on the campus for the panel sessions: King’s College, Kings Quad, High St, Aberdeen AB24 3SW and New King’s, High St, Aberdeen AB24 3UB.

Catering will be spread over three locations, close to the buildings where panel sessions will take place:
Elphinstone Hall, 21 High St, Aberdeen AB24 3EE and the adjoining Linklater rooms, which are located close to King’s College & New King’s. The book exhibit will also be found in Elphinstone Hall.
MacRobert Lecture Hall, in the MacRobert Building, just to the right of the reception desk.
Linklater rooms, to the right, this location will be catering for those with serious allergies, we will be contacting you individually if your catering will be provided from this location.

Plenary events will take place in the Arts Lecture Theatre, 569 King St, Aberdeen AB24 5SU which is a short 2-3 minute walk from the panel session and lunch venues.

MacRobert Building: All of the rooms in use are accessible, the lifts can be found at the end of the corridor to the right as you face the cafe in the entrance.
King’s College: Navigating to some rooms on the upper floors can be slightly more time consuming, as it is comprised of smaller corridors. All the panel session rooms we are using are wheelchair accessible.
New King’s: SIEF2025 will only be using the accessible rooms for panel sessions in the New King’s building for panel sessions.
Arts Lecture Theatre: Some of the room is wheelchair accessible, but only to the back, as much of the seating is elevated away from the stage.

Access Able has dedicated guides for buildings on the University of Aberdeen Campus: Aberdeen Campus Access Guides 
Euan’s Guide is a useful resource for planning travel across the UK, with reviews written by and for disabled people.
University of Aberdeen accessible maps for download can be found here.

Depending on your arrival time, you might want to go to your accommodation first, the majority of routes to Aberdeen arrive in the city centre where most accommodation is located, and you will then need to get a bus or taxi to the congress venue at the university.
We have a dedicated travel information page to guide you to the congress and around Aberdeen.
The first day has two panel sessions and the Mentorship Programme initial meeting (during the refreshment break) before the congress opening ceremony and plenary, make sure you know where to go by checking the congress timetable.

What to bring:

• Those not from the UK should bring an adaptor for European standard electrical sockets to be able to charge their devices (three-pronged).
• Bring a USB or another portable device to transfer your presentation files on the day. You cannot use your own laptop to present!
• Have some cash on you (GBP), but cards are accepted in most places.
• A water bottle, a hat and an umbrella (The weather can be unpredictable)
• Your dancing shoes for the Ceilidh social event on Friday 6th. 
  (There are still some tickets available for this at the time of writing, contact the congress email or visit the congress office if you are interested in a ticket.)

Publishers:
The Book Exhibit is located at the Elphinstone Hall, 21 High St, Aberdeen AB24 3EE, close to the refreshments. Representatives of Berghahn Books will be present, displaying/selling their products, and talking to prospective authors/collaborators. The book exhibit is open  09:00 - 17:00 each day. There will also be a ‘digital table’ from Waxmann, available from the congress website.

Parent and child room, quiet room, working room:

• Parent and Child Space – We have set aside these rooms for feeding and changing at the congress in addition to campus facilities:
  MR418, MacRobert Building, Accessible
  NK15, New King’s, Not accessible by wheelchair
• Quiet Room – for those who need a quiet space to take a break from the congress for any reason - not to be used for meetings
  NK11, New King’s,  Not accessible by wheelchair
  KCS10, King's College Quad, Accessible
• Work Space -  The following spaces have been set aside for delegates to work:
  MR256, MacRobert Building, Accessible
  NK14, New King’s, Not accessible by wheelchair
• If you need a room for any other reason or the same reasons as above, but they’re busy, please come see us in MR047, MacRober Building and we will endeavour to find you one.

WiFi:
Eduroam wireless internet is available at the University of Aberdeen.
If you do not have Eduroam you can use the free guest WiFi network, that is available in many locations across the city: Aberdeen-city-connect.
This network requires you to register, which can be done easily once you are in range.

Printing:
If you need to print your paper, boarding pass or other documents, or have to make photocopies, there are many print shops in Aberdeen city, but no facilities on campus. Please make sure you print off anything that you need, before coming to the venue.
Printing is also available at many of Aberdeen's libraries.

If you cannot print your materials before arriving at the congress venue, we may be able to print them in the congress office (MR047) provided it is not too busy at the time. There is a charge for this of 50 pence per sheet, cash only.

The reception desk is in the entrance area of the main congress venue MacRobert Building, Here you can check-in to the congress and pick up your badge. 
Reception closes at 17:15 on the first day, but if you miss this you are still welcome to attend the opening and welcome reception.

• Your badge (if you've bought a Ceilidh ticket this will be indicated as an icon)
• Your printed congress programme book

Reception desk (MacRobert entrance) opening hours:

Tuesday 3 June: 10:30-17:15
Wednesday 4 June: 08:00-16:45
Thursday 5 June: 08:00-17:30
Friday 6 June: 08:00-15:00

Congress office (MR047) opening hours:

Tuesday 3 June: 10:30-17:15
Wednesday 4 June: 08:00-19:00
Thursday 5 June: 08:00-19:00
Friday 6 June: 08:00-16:45

Please do not try to check in at the Reception desk before it opens, or after it has closed. 

Please check your account to make sure your congress and membership fees are paid before 3 June.

If you are yet to settle the fees: PLEASE, pretty please -  try to do that prior to 3 June by card or inform us as soon as possible of any special circumstances why you need to pay at the congress. 
We can’t guarantee that bank transfers made from this point will be resolved on time for the congress, so we advise against them at this stage.

Those needing to settle their congress or membership fees will need to come to the Congress organisers' (NomadIT) office MR047 (ground floor of the MacRobert Building), only after the debt is settled can they receive their programme book and badge from the Reception desk. 
The office is small and full of stressed Nomads, so for the sake of public health, safety and hygiene, I implore that you all settle the fees before the event.

Check your account

There are several catering locations for the congress as sessions will take place in different buildings.
The majority of catering will be catered in MacRobert Lecture Hall & Elphinstone Hall.
The linklater rooms will be catering for those with special diets and allergies only.

• MacRobert Lecture Hall - ground floor of the MacRobert Building, on the right as you enter, by the reception desk.
• Elphinstone Hall - located between Kings College & New Kings buildings, entrance under the stone arches.
• Linklater Rooms - to the right of Elphinstone Hall, entrance under the stone arches. This area is for serious allergy catering, we will be contacting you individually if your catering will be provided from this location.

On Tuesday there is no lunch, but hot drinks and snacks will be served in the catering venues during the refreshment break

The university events team have put together a booklet of places to eat outside of the congress catering times.

Those presenting:
Please have any files you wish to present on your portable device (or USB) and bring to your panel room 15 minutes before the session, to upload and check. You cannot present from your own computer as the hybrid equipment is set to work only with the room’s main computer. A Zoom session will be running (for your panel) on the room’s computer, so when you wish to show your files you will need to use the Zoom share-screen function. This will make sure that both those in the room and online attendees will be able to see your files and you. Please remember that the audience is both in the room and in Zoom. There will be a student volunteer team member present to assist - so all will be well. 

Those convening/chairing:
Please arrive 15 mins early for your panel to meet the congress volunteer who will start the panel’s Zoom on the room’s computer and go over the hybrid aspect. Presenters should arrive early to upload their presentations to the presentation computer, and remote presenters will want to also do a quick tech check. Please ensure you’ve read the Information for Convenors on the congress information page and do your best to treat all participants (online and f2f) fairly.

Strict time-keeping is crucial to a good congress and is one of your responsibilities as convenor or chair. 
Please ensure that each presenter gets their fair share of the time and please do not run over into the breaks, so that everyone can get their own fair share of coffee and snacks.

Online access to panels:
You need to be logged in to the congress website, in order for the links to virtual rooms to be visible (on the day of the panel/event within timetable items), and on panel pages (beneath the abstract). There will be a button saying 'Enter Session'.

For more detailed information please see the Hybrid Online Information section of the info page.

F2f delegates can also access online, so if you have to miss a day or session for any reason, you can join online. Unless panels opt out on the day, most will also be recorded, so you can revisit these recordings whenever you like from the congress programme.

Workshops:
SIEF2025 includes several interesting workshops and combined format panel+workshops. As workshops often involve a limited number of participants/attendees, we recommend booking your place with the workshop convenors and reading up on the planned activities. The links to sign up to workshops are visible to delegates only when they are logged in.

Most will take place in panel rooms and be accessible to online participants as well as those physically present. Others are face to face only workshops taking place completely, or partially away, from the main venue: make sure you have a good look at the timetable so that you don't miss out on interesting content!

At the event: don't feel discouraged from trying to attend a workshop during the congress even if you didn't pre-register, as sometimes pre-registered colleagues do not turn up, but please be aware that this format has some restrictions, so do not be upset if there's no place.

Film programme:
The SIEF2025 film call had a very high number of submissions this time and we are pleased to have a packed programme. You can see the film sessions on the congress programme.

Ceilidh dance:
The congress social event will take place on the evening of Friday 6 June, at the Beach Ballroom, Beach Promenade, Aberdeen AB24 5NR. With music from Aberdeen's All-female ceílidh band Danse McCabre and traditional ceilidh fare to keep up your energy for dancing.
Tickets can be purchased with congress registration; if you've already registered and would like to add a ticket, please email us as there are still some tickets available!

NoJoke – The Open Mic for People studying with People:
On Wednesday 4 June, NoJoke – The Stand Up Open Mic for People studying with People, will take place at The Blue Lamp in Aberdeen, from 8pm. It’s the first Open Mic at a SIEF Conference!!! You are invited to come along and enjoy a stand-up show, entrance is free!

Castles & Coasts tour:
On Saturday 7 June, colleagues at the Elphinstone Institute have organised a trip to the North-East of Scotland, taking in historic castles, the dramatic North Sea coastline, and traditional Scottish culture. 
Booking is required and tickets are available from the congress organisers via email or the office (MR047, MacRobert Building).

Walking tours & activities:
The Elphinstone Institute have organised walking tours and experiences of the sights, culture and history of Aberdeen, Tuesday 3 June from 10:00 to 12:00:
Step dance taster session, with Pat Ballantyne
A walk round legendary old Aberdeen
Aberdeen’s revolutionary maternity/neonatal services
Ethnobotanical introduction to Cruickshank botanic gardens

There are also many more events and exhibitions at the University of Aberdeen that you can find on the congress timetable.

Emergency contact details:

• Congress email: congress@siefhome.org
• Congress phone number:  +44 07984 664  741. 
• Emergency services in the UK number: 999 or 112
• For non emergency health concerns, you can call 111 and they will advise if you should see a pharmacist or a doctor, and can even book a doctor for you.
• The nearest pharmacies are:
  Websters Pharmacy, City Centre, 624 King St, Aberdeen AB24 1SN, Phone: 01224483776
  Baird's Pharmacy, 519A King St, Aberdeen AB24 3BT, Phone: 01224483783

Given that the programme inevitably experiences some changes after we go to print, we suggest using your portable device to check the congress website.
You can click on the star next to programme items to keep track of things you want to see, building a personal schedule for yourself.

Congress news will also be posted from SIEF Facebook and SIEF X accounts - so you can like/follow those to stay up to date that way.

Safe travels and we look forward to seeing you in Aberdeen!

All the best,
Alix & the NomadIT organising team